DOLPHINS 20 SYDNEY ROOSTERS 36
TOM SMITH, Suncorp Stadium, Friday

FIT-AGAIN Sam Walker and the miraculous Mark Nawaqanitawase ensured the Roosters booked their place in the Grand Final with victory over the Dolphins.

The Tricolours silenced a sold-out Suncorp Stadium, exposing the Phins’ brittle defence. 

Walker made a fruitful return from ankle surgery less than a month ago, scoring a try and assisting another, while Nawaqanitawase weaved his magic for a brace. 

The only negative was Connor Watson failing a head-injury assessment, which will rule him out of the Grand Final. 

The Chooks now look forward to their first decider since their 2019 triumph, and their fourth under Trent Robinson. 

It was a flat end to a thrilling campaign for the hosts, whose halfback Isaiya Katoa struggled all evening due to an early ankle knock. 

This match-up evoked memories of the Dolphins’ first-ever game when they entered the comp in 2023, producing a famous upset of the Roosters at this venue. But there was no repeat here. 

The Sydneysiders set up their date with the Queenslanders with a thumping semi-final win over Cronulla, and welcomed back Walker just four weeks after injuring his ankle against this opponent in Sydney. 

Hull FC-bound Daly Cherry-Evans – a Redcliffe native whose father played for the Dolphins in the Brisbane comp – shifted to stand-off and Hugo Savala moved to the bench. 

The Phins sealed their home preliminary final by outmuscling the Warriors in Auckland a fortnight ago, where Thomas Flegler failed a head=injury assessment he has since overcome. 

Kristian Woolf’s only change was bringing Jake Averillo into his subs. 

After a breathless opening, some Nawaqanitawase magic broke the deadline in the 18th minute. 

Selwyn Cobbo looked certain to score until the intercept specialist snaffled a Herbie Farnworth pass to sprint the length of the field with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow breathing down his neck. 

The second try was much simpler, as Reece Robson sent Victor Radley crashing over next to the uprights. 

Walker then kicked to the high-flying Tupou, who beat Jamayne Isaako in the air to claim a signature four-pointer. 

Isaako pulled one back up the other end, contorting himself around the corner post to find the corner thanks to some silky ball movement by Tabuai-Fidow and Kodi Nikorima. 

Officials confirmed the try despite the ball appearing to be planted on the chalk. 

Kept alive by that slice of luck, the Dolphins were well and truly in the fight once Isaako scored again three minutes into the second half, thanks to James Tedesco spilling a Katoa bomb. 

But it wasn’t long before the Roosters flexed their muscle. 

Cherry-Evans speared a perfect cross-field kick to Nawaqanitawase, who somehow stayed in to fire an offload to try-scorer Robert Toia in support. 

Lindsay Collins was the next to barge over, then hen the Chooks added another spectacular team try to their highlight reel, as Walker released Radley, who looped a long pass to Nawaqanitawase for a powerful finish. 

As the clock ticked down, Walker stepped around the wrong-footed Kulikefu Finefeuiaki to grab four points, then immediately headed up the tunnel to ice the back of his knee and rest his ankle. 

Finefeuiaki and Farnworth both scored late consolation tries to make the scoreboard look a little better.

GAMESTAR: Mark Nawaqanitawase scored two tries, assisted another and racked up a dizzying 300-plus running metres.

GAMEBREAKER: Sam Walker capped his miraculous return from ankle surgery less than a month ago by registering a late try then immediately going off to put his feet up.

MATCHFACTS

DOLPHINS
1 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
2 Jamayne Isaako
3 Jack Bostock
4 Herbie Farnworth
5 Selwyn Cobbo
6 Kodi Nikorima
7 Isaiya Katoa
8 Thomas Flegler
9 Jeremy Marshall-King
10 Tom Gilbert
11 Max Plath
12 Kulikefu Finefeuiaki
13 Morgan Knowles
Subs
14 Kurt Donoghoe
15 Ray Stone
16 Francis Molo
17 Connelly Lemuelu
19 Brad Schneider (not used)
20 Jake Averillo (not used)

Tries: Isaako (34, 43), Finefeuiaki (75), Farnworth (77)
Goals: Isaako 2/4

ROOSTERS
1 James Tedesco
2 Daniel Tupou
3 Billy Smith
4 Robert Toia
5 Mark Nawaqanitawase
6 Daly Cherry-Evans
7 Sam Walker
8 Naufahu Whyte
9 Reece Robson
10 Lindsay Collins
11 Salesi Foketi
12 Siua Wong
13 Victor Radley
Subs
14 Connor Watson
15 Angus Crichton
16 Nat Butcher
17 Spencer Leniu (not used)
18 Hugo Savala
19 Cody Ramsey (not used)

Tries: Nawaqanitawase (18, 57), Radley (24), Tupou (27), Toia (46), Collins (55), Walker (67)
Goals: Walker 2/3, Cherry-Evans 2/4

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-12, 0-16, 6-16; 10-16, 10-22, 10-28, 10-32, 10-36, 14-36, 20-36

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Dolphins: Kulikefu Finefeuiaki; Roosters: Mark Nawaqanitawase

Penalty count: 4-3
Half-time: 6-16
Referee: Adam Gee
Attendance: 52,286